SF0170 • 2023

Specifying additional beneficial uses of water.

AN ACT relating to water; specifying the storage of water for drought contingency and compact compliance as an additional beneficial use of water; providing conforming amendments; and providing for an effective date.

Inactive

Wyoming marks this bill as inactive, which usually means it is no longer moving in the current session.

Sponsor: Senator Steinmetz
Last action: 2023-02-07
Official status: inactive
Effective date: 3/1/2023

Plain English Breakdown

The official source indicates that the bill was marked as inactive and died in committee. The candidate explanation incorrectly stated an effective date of July 1, 2023, which is not supported by the provided information.

Adding Water Storage for Drought and Compact Compliance

The bill adds storing water for drought contingency planning and to comply with interstate water agreements as a new beneficial use of water in Wyoming.

What This Bill Does

Defines storing water for drought contingency planning as a beneficial use.
Includes storing water to comply with interstate water agreements as a beneficial use.
Updates existing laws about what counts as a beneficial use of water.

Who It Names or Affects

People and organizations that manage or use water in Wyoming.
State agencies responsible for water rights and management.

Terms To Know

Beneficial Use: A way of using water that is recognized by law as a valid reason to have a right to the water.
Drought Contingency Planning: Planning for how to manage water during times when there is not enough water due to drought conditions.

Limits and Unknowns

The bill does not specify who will pay for the storage of water.
It is unclear if and how this bill will be reconsidered in future sessions since it was marked as inactive.
The bill only affects Wyoming's state laws and does not change federal rules.

Bill History

2023-02-07 Senate
S:Died in Committee Returned Bill Pursuant to SR 5-4
2023-02-06 Senate
S No report prior to CoW Cutoff
2023-01-24 Senate
S Introduced and Referred to S05 - Agriculture
2023-01-24 Senate
S Received for Introduction
2023-01-24 LSO
Bill Number Assigned

Current Bill Text

Read the full stored bill text

23LSO-0039
2023
STATE OF WYOMING
23LSO-0039
Numbered
2.0

SENATE FILE NO. SF0170

Specifying additional beneficial uses of water.

Sponsored by: Senator(s) Steinmetz and Hicks

A BILL

for

Be It Enacted by the Legislature of the State of Wyoming:

Section 1.

W.S. 41
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3
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101 is amended to read:

41
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3
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101.

Nature of water rights and beneficial use.

(a)

A water right is a right to use the water of the state, when such use has been acquired by the beneficial application of water under the laws of the state relating thereto, and in conformity with the rules and regulations dependent thereon. Beneficial use shall be the basis, the measure and limit of the right to use water at all times, not exceeding the statutory limit except as provided by W.S. 41
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4
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317.
In addition to any beneficial use specified by law or rule and regulation promulgated pursuant thereto, the use of water for the purpose of extracting heat therefrom is considered a beneficial use subject to prior rights.
Water being always the property of the state, rights to its use shall attach to the land for irrigation, or to such other purposes or object for which acquired in accordance with the beneficial use made for which the right receives public recognition, under the law and the administration provided thereby. Water rights for the direct use of the natural unstored flow of any stream cannot be detached from the lands, place or purpose for which they are acquired, except as provided in W.S. 41
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3
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102 and 41
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3
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103, pertaining to a change to preferred use, and except as provided in W.S. 41
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4
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514.

(b)

In addition to any beneficial use specified by law or rule and regulation promulgated pursuant thereto, the following uses of water are considered a beneficial use subject to prior rights water used for the purpose of:

(i)

Extracting heat therefrom;

(ii)

Storing water for drought contingency or interstate water compact compliance.

Section 2
.

This act is effective July 1, 2023
.

(END)

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SF0170